Janet Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Janet Anne Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC (born 20 August 1955) is a British Labour Co-operative Party politician. She announced in May 2015 that she would not seek re-election as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords.[1]
Education and early political career
Royall grew up in Hucclecote and Newnham on Severn, where her parents ran a shop.[2]
Royall was educated at the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School and Westfield College, University of London, where she gained a BA in Spanish and French in 1977.
Royall was a special adviser to Neil Kinnock, the leader of the Labour Party, in the 1980s, and she has remained a close ally of his ever since. She sought selection as Labour's candidate for Ogmore in a 2002 by-election. However, the constituency party preferred Huw Irranca-Davies as their candidate. When in 2003 she became head of the European Commission office in Wales, there were calls for her to stand down because of her connections to the Labour Party.[3]
House of Lords
On 25 June 2004 she was created Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, of Blaisdon in the County of Gloucestershire.[4] In the House of Lords, she became government spokesperson for Health, International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
On 24 January 2008 Baroness Royall was appointed government chief whip in the House of Lords, following the resignation of Lord Grocott. She was appointed a Privy Counsellor later in the year. On 3 October 2008, she was promoted to the cabinet by Gordon Brown, who made her Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. On 5 June 2009, Royall was succeeded as Lord President by Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, and was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
She voted for a 100% elected House, on the last occasion that the House of Lords voted on Reform of the House of Lords in March 2007.[5] She has called for a national referendum on any reforms of the chamber.
In September 2012, she spoke out against the proposed badger cull.[6]
She announced in May 2015 that she would not seek re-election as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords.[1]
Principal of Somerville College
In February 2017, Somerville College, Oxford, announced the selection of Baroness Royall as its next principal.[7] She will follow Alice Prochaska at the end of August 2017.[7]
Family
She was married to Stuart Hercock until his death in 2010, and has a daughter, Charlie, and two sons, Ned and Harry.
Styles of address
- 1955–2004: Ms Janet A. Royall
- 2004–2008: The Right Honourable The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
- 2008–: The Right Honourable The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC
References
- 1 2 "Baroness Royall to step down as Labour leader in the Lords".
- ↑ "Baroness Royall talks cost of living, utility bills and immigration ahead of elections". Gloucester Citizen.
- ↑ "Euro appointment under fire". BBC.
- ↑ "No. 57341". The London Gazette. 30 June 2004. p. 8139.
- ↑ "Public Whip".
- ↑ "Big Issue: Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon on the badger cull". This is Gloucestershire.
- 1 2 Announcement of new Principal at Somerville College, Somerville College, 9 Feb 2017.
External links
- Profile at www.parliament.uk
- Baroness Royall of Blaisdon from Dod Online
- The Rt Hon the Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, PC at Debrett's People of Today
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord Grocott |
Chief Whip in the House of Lords 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by The Lord Bassam of Brighton |
| Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms 2007–2008 | ||
| Preceded by Catherine Ashton |
Lord President of the Council 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by The Lord Mandelson |
| Leader of the House of Lords 2008–2010 |
Succeeded by The Lord Strathclyde | |
| Preceded by Liam Byrne |
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2009–2010 | |
| Preceded by The Lord Strathclyde |
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords 2010–2015 |
Succeeded by The Baroness Smith of Basildon |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Baroness Ashton of Upholland |
Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords 2008–2015 |
Succeeded by The Baroness Smith of Basildon |
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